Month: June 2022

Chromebooks should be simple and practical devices. Acer’s new Chromebook 314 honours these values and delivers a refreshing, affordable laptop for the rest of us.

Acer has updated its Chromebook lineup, with the new range including the CB314, a cheap and cheerful model that could be ideal for students, younger users or simply someone who needs an inexpensive laptop that can still handle a range of apps and tasks. We put it through its paces in our full review to see if this would be money well spent.

Design & Build Quality
Acer has opted for a steely blue livery for the Chromebook 314’s plastic chassis, and we have to say that it does make this a very handsome device.

The top cover is a plain, matt finish adorned with the Acer and Chrome logos. Twin, downward-facing speakers are located on the bottom panel, along with the rubber feet that prevent the CB314 from slipping around when used on a desk.

Opening the lid reveals the 14in TN panel that runs at a basic resolution of 1366 x 768, which is pretty standard fare for entry-level Chromebooks around this price.

There’s no touch option on this model and the hinges are classic laptop style rather than some of the 360-degree wraparound ones that are found on more expensive models like the Asus Chromebook C433TA.

Keyboard & Trackpad
Chromebooks are surprisingly consistent with their keyboards, in that most are decently built and comfortable to type upon. The one on this device fits the bill nicely, coming replete with the specialist keys that give you quick access to Search, recent apps, and fullscreen mode.

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Acer adds to its Chromebook range with the new Spin 713 that features premium specs and a mid-range price. It’s one of the best you can buy

Acer is a company that has consistently supported the Chromebook platform and over the years it’s released some excellent models.

Now, a new mid-to-high-end version has arrived, with a taller display, Intel Core processors and bang-up-to-date Wi-Fi connectivity. I take a look at the Spin 713 to see if all that practice has made perfect.

I’ve tested the top-end Core i5 model but you can also get the 713 in Core i3 and Pentium Gold SKUs.

Design & Build
The initial aesthetic of the Spin 713 is that of a business laptop, mainly due to the minimalistic silvery grey livery and bevelled lid edges that lend it a premium quality.

Running a hand along the sides of the device reveals slight curvatures that go inwards once past the ports, but the most obvious difference to standard Chromebooks (or indeed most laptops) is the taller nature of the metal chassis.

Two thick hinges support the ability to fold the display back through 360 degrees, all of which is made more useful due to the touch screen capabilities.

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The Pixelbook Go’s high-end design, great performance and affordable price tag make this Chromebook one not to be missed

dGoogle released the Pixelbook Go back in 2019 as a successor to the Pixelbook, but with a much more affordable price tag. The word ‘Go’ in the name is certainly fitting – as this Chromebook has features that are perfect for anyone who needs a device that can be ported around with ease.

We spent some time with the Pixelbook Go to see if this Chromebook lives up to the hype – keep on reading for our thoughts in full. Alternatively, take a look at our guide to the best Chromebooks to see how rivals compare.

Design and build
At 1.06kg this is a featherweight device, and at only 11.4inch x 8.7inch, it can slip into most backpacks with ease. It’s perfect for students, as well as remote workers who use the Google ecosystem for most of their day-to-day tasks (such as the Tech Advisor team right now!).

The magnesium alloy body has a matt finish with curved edges. Whilst this does look polished, it picks up fingerprints quite easily, something to keep in mind if you’re bothered by this. We tested the ‘Just Black’ variant, but you can also get the Pixelbook in Google’s ‘Not Pink’ finish, although that’s only available on the 8GB/128GB version.

The bottom of the Pixelbook Go is ribbed to allow you to grip it more easily. Whether you like the bold appearance or not is a matter of preference, but as a self-confessed klutz, I was a big fan. It’s also comfortable to use and doesn’t feel strange in your lap. I did find on occasion that the Chromebook got a little on the hot side, though not to the point where it affected performance.

Both the top and bottom of the screen have quite large bezels that limit the display ever so slightly. Perhaps for future models, Google should look at maximising this space for a better viewing experience.

You also get a touchscreen with the Pixelbook. Personally, I didn’t find a lot of use for it – especially as this Chromebook can’t transform into a tablet option. However, if you enjoy design-based apps or the odd game that utilises touchscreen, you may find otherwise.

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Lenovo has updated its lineup of Chromebooks with the new IdeaPad 3 – but just ‘Chromebook 3’ in the USA – which offers a 14in display, the simplicity of ChromeOS and all for a very reasonable price. So, is the package in reality as good as it seems on paper? Let’s take a look.

Design & Build
The IdeaPad 3 (14in) is a reasonably sedate looking machine in terms of Chromebooks these days. You won’t find any 360-degree hinges that allow you to stand it on its head or even a detachable keyboard like on Lenovo’s own 2-in-1 Duet Chromebook. Instead, it’s a classic notebook with a simple, business-like aesthetic.

The plastic chassis on this review model comes in a handsome dark blue, which Lenovo calls Abyss Blue. There is a Platinum Grey version if that’s more your style. The lid bears the ChromeOS logo, which is an embedded sticker rather than the normal screen printing I’ve seen of late. Nice touch. There’s also a silver-coloured plate on the side of the panel with Lenovo emblazoned within.

Curiously, there’s an identical plate found on the inside, just to the right of the palm rest. While Lenovo might indeed be proud of its creation, this does seem a little bit of overkill in the design department. There are also stickers to inform the user that Intel processors lie within, plus a QR code that takes you to the Lenovo eSupport page. Truth be told, I’m not a fan of the sticker culture that’s beginning to appear on Chromebooks.

Of course, Intel wants its glory, but one of the nicest things about Chromebooks has always been that they don’t come with pre-loaded crud that often makes setting up Windows PC a chore. Having stickers plastered all over the place just invokes that messy experience and detracts from the clean and sparse nature of the Google-powered laptop. Put the stickers on the base and everything will look much better. ‘Keep it simple stupid’ is a saying for a reason.

Our review shows Acer’s Spin 513 Chromebook is light and long-lasting, ticking two major laptop buying boxes. Even if it falls down somewhat elsewhere

Acer’s Spin range of Chromebooks have been impressing me of late, be it at the budget or premium end of the scale. Now, the company has brought a mid-range laptop to the table with decent specs and a shoulder-friendly weight. So, does the Spin 513 maintain the reputation built by its siblings? I spent a couple of weeks with one to find out.

Design & Build
The first thing you notice when taking the Spin 513 out of the box is how incredibly light it is. At around 1.3kg, it’s a very comfortable device to put in your bag and carry around. The main contributing factor to this feathery heft is the fact that the chassis is plastic rather than metal.

Acer has given it a smart brushed steel look with a bevelled edge. It feels reasonably sturdy but the lack of a more durable material could make the Spin 513 prone to cracks or breakages if you’re not careful.

If that’s a deal-breaker for you, then stepping up to the excellent Acer Spin 713 will fix things, as the metal chassis should ensure a more robust device, not to mention the overall impressive performance. You can see how much I liked that Chromebook in my Acer Spin 713 review.

As with the 713, the side edges taper inwards after the sections that house the various ports, while the underside is home to twin downward-facing speakers. Two strong hinges support folding the screen back through 360 degrees, so you can use the device as a standard laptop, put it in a tent mode to watch movies, or turn it into a makeshift tablet.

The latter is usually a bit of a chore, with laptops being too heavy for those duties, but the lightweight nature of the 513 comes into play here making it a decent convertible, albeit one I wouldn’t want to use for too long.

Acer fits a few different connectors to the 513 flanks, with two USB-C (one on either side), one USB 3 port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The right side is also home to the power button and volume controls. Not a bad selection at all for a slim, light laptop.

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